THE INQUEST ON MRS CARROLL.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 447, 13 June 1899, Page 2

THE INQUEST ON MRS CARROLL.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,-—Curosity led me to be present at a portion of the inquesc held in this town on Thursday last, and I mubt say I was much astonished at the manner in which the inquiry was conducted, and also at the number of witnesses of the sad occurrence who were absent. I must plead ignorance as to the powers possessed by "His Worship" the Coroner, but surely common courtesy should be exercised to a limited extent. At this enquiry Detective Grace appeared to conduct the case on behalf of the police, but during the whole time I was in the Court I have not the slightest hesitation in stating that he was not allowed to put two con-ecutive questions to the witnesses without " His Worship " interfering and generally taking the examination in quite a different direction to that intended by the supposed examiner. I have, unfortunately, been present at several inquests, but never did I see suoh a •' one-man show" as this was, aud I sincerely trust I may never 6ee such another. What would our Courts be like if the magistrate or judge prosecuted, defended and summed up? I have no doubt but that the Coroner was endeavouring to get at the truth and his directions to the jury as to what constituted murder and what was manslaughter were very clear and concise, but I think he should have allowed Detective Grace to have finished his examination before he (the Coroner) interfered. These are only my individual opinions, but I fancy they are very much the same as those of the public win were present at the inquiry.—l am, etc., One Who Was Present. Cambridge, 10th June, 1899.